Mechanism of mine water-inrush through a fault from the floor

Abstract The mechanism of mine water inrushes in coal mines in China differs considerably from that in other countries. In China, most water inrushes occur from floor strata, where the water-inrush sources are karstic limestone aquifers. Our study describes the mechanism of mine water inrushes through a fault in the mine floor using principles of strata mechanics and the path of water inrush from an aquifer to the working face. A criterion to judge whether a ground water inrush will occur through a fault or not is also described, together with a case history of water inflow in the Feicheng coalfield, China.